Coronado Times

Celebrating Independence Day with Richard Lederer
2026-06-23 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
On Tuesday, June 23 at 11 am, San Diego legend Richard Lederer will be serving up his trademark wit and wisdom in a special performance at the Coronado Public Library. This year, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, our nation’s birth certificate and mission statement. Union Tribune columnist and International Punster of the Year, Richard Lederer will talk about the significance of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address.
With more than 60 books to his name, including the exceptional Anguished English series, Dr. Lederer has a unique ability to make language both enlightening and fun. Dr. Lederer is also the founding co-host of the popular KPBS program, “A Way With Words.” A recipient of the prestigious Toastmasters International Golden Gavel award, Dr. Lederer will be sure to leave you laughing and learning. This event is free to attend thanks to the support of the Friends of the Coronado Public Library and the City of Coronado. Head to cplevents.org for more information.

Summer on the Strand: Lego Engineering Challenge
2026-06-24 09:30 - 10:30 | Silver Strand Youth Center, 1302 Leyte Road, Coronado, 92118, United States
Join us this Summer on the Strand!
The Coronado Public Library, in collaboration with the Silver Strand Youth Center, will be hosting exciting events for all ages every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. all summer long. Kids, teens, and adults can sign up for our Summer Reading Program at these events, log their reads, and pick up their prizes while enjoying a different fun-filled event each week. These events will take place outside, so pack your sunscreen and a blanket to sit on and enjoy. Please note that public restrooms are not available at this location.
This program is made possible thanks to the support of the Friends of the Coronado Public Library and the City of Coronado.

On Wednesday, June 24, get ready to build. We are bringing our LEGO Engineering Challenge to the Strand. Build your own creation, or see if you can complete the challenge.

Best of the Best Book Club: "The Thirty Names of Night" by Zeyn Joukhader
2026-06-24 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Library, 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library’s Best of the Best Book Club meets regularly on the fourth Wednesday of each month to discuss books that have won major awards.
For our June meeting, we will be discussing the winner of the 2020 Lambda Literary Award The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhader, a novel about three generations of Syrian Americans haunted by a mysterious species of bird and the truths they carry close to their hearts.

About Thirty Names of Night
Five years after a suspicious fire killed his ornithologist mother, a closeted Syrian American trans boy sheds his birth name and searches for a new one. As his grandmother’s sole caretaker, he spends his days cooped up in their apartment, avoiding his neighborhood masjid, his estranged sister, and even his best friend (who also happens to be his longtime crush). The only time he feels truly free is when he slips out at night to paint murals on buildings in the once-thriving Manhattan neighborhood known as Little Syria, but he’s been struggling ever since his mother’s ghost began visiting him each evening.
One night, he enters the abandoned community house and finds the tattered journal of a Syrian American artist named Laila Z, who dedicated her career to painting birds. She mysteriously disappeared more than sixty years before, but her journal contains proof that both his mother and Laila Z encountered the same rare bird before their deaths. In fact, Laila Z’s past is intimately tied to his mother’s in ways he never could have expected. Even more surprising, Laila Z’s story reveals the histories of queer and transgender people within his own community that he never knew. Realizing that he isn’t and has never been alone, he has the courage to claim a new name: Nadir, an Arabic name meaning rare.
As unprecedented numbers of birds are mysteriously drawn to the New York City skies, Nadir enlists the help of his family and friends to unravel what happened to Laila Z and the rare bird his mother died trying to save. Following his mother’s ghost, he uncovers the silences kept in the name of survival by his own community, his own family, and within himself, and discovers the family that was there all along.

Intro to block printing: Carve & print your own designs
2026-06-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Discover the magic of block printing in this 90-minute introductory workshop. Led by local-artist and printmaker Kasey Leung, you’ll be guided step-by-step through designing, carving, and printing your very own original block. Use it to create small art prints — perfect for gifting, sharing, or keeping for yourself. The emphasis is on process over perfection, with plenty of room to experiment and enjoy making with your hands.

No experience needed and all materials are provided. You’ll leave with finished prints and your carved block to take home, so you can keep printing and making art long after the workshops ends.

This program is for adults over the age of 18. Space is limited, registration is recommended. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.

Kasey Leung, owner of MOS Designs, is a San Diego-based artist and adventurer who transforms outdoor-inspired nostalgia into handcrafted prints and illustrations. Drawing on her experiences snowboarding, rock climbing, surfing, and everyday outdoor moments, she uses bold flowy lines and imperfect shapes to capture movement and memories outside. Kasey loves helping beginners explore their creativity and bring their own designs to life, believing everyone is an artist in their own unique way.

Art as History: Contemporary perspectives on American and San Diego stories
2026-06-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Drawing on the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s permanent collection, this presentation explores how contemporary artists over the last 50 years have engaged with United States history and reflected on it through their practices. Through a virtual tour of selected works, we will examine how artists have reimagined historical narratives — with a special focus on San Diego histories and the stories that shape our region. Join us for this visual journey connecting art, memory, and place.

Summer Festival Concert - Latin jazz pianist Irving Flores
2026-06-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us for a special Summer Festival Concert featuring San Diego pianist and composer Irving Flores. A celebrated Latin jazz artist with more than four decades of experience, Flores is known for his vibrant piano style, inventive arrangements, and dynamic performances that blend jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and Latin musical traditions.
Flores has performed and collaborated with many acclaimed musicians, including Poncho Sanchez, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Gilbert Castellanos, Peter Sprague, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, and others. His work as a composer and arranger has also included projects with the San Diego Symphony, demonstrating his wide-ranging artistry and deep connection to the region’s music community.
Enjoy an afternoon of live music in the Winn Room as Flores brings his signature energy, rhythmic sophistication, and expressive musicianship to the Library’s Summer Festival Concert series.

San Diego Scam Jam: Building your fraud-prevention toolkit
2026-06-26 14:00 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
This free informative presentation is designed to help you stay safe, prepared and empowered.

Learn how to spot, avoid, and respond to scams with confidence. This engaging presentation explores the tactics scammers use to create urgency and build trust while providing practical strategies to protect yourself and your loved ones. Through real-life examples and hands-on scam spotting exercise, you’ll build a fraud prevention toolkit and learn where to turn for reporting, recovery, and support. Presented by San Diego County Aging & Independence Services.
To reserve your spot today, register online at www.coronado.ca.us/civicrec, call 619-522-7343, or stop by the John D. Spreckels Center at 1019 Seventh Street.

Spice It Up, Coronado!: Stories and lore on honey
2026-06-26 15:00 - 16:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Golden, sweet, and treasured for thousands of years, honey has flavored feasts, medicines, celebrations, and legends around the world. Storyteller Marilyn McPhie, an enthusiastic participant in the “Spice It Up, Coronado” program, will share the folklore, history, and delightful lore surrounding honey — from sacred honey cakes and ancient remedies to tales of abundance, sweetness, and temptation.
Note: There is no featured sample spice for the month of June. We will be meeting in person in the Winn Room.
Registration is not required.

Marilyn McPhile is the President, Storytellers of San Diego, www.storytellersofsandiego.org
ORACLE Award, National Storytelling Network, 2022
TEDx talk: “Storytelling: Do Try This At Home”
Miramar College, Child Development Advisory Committee
Global Neighborhood Project, Board of Global Advisors

See photographs and recipes from past Spice It Up, Coronado! HERE, then click on Open Access.

Disclaimer(s)

Free And Open

Coronado Island Film Festival presents Movie on the Beach: "Dirty Dancing"
2026-06-26 19:00 | Hotel Del Beach
The Coronado Island Film Festival invites guests to step into the summer of 1963 on Friday, June 26, for its annual Movie on the Beach fundraiser — this year featuring the classic Dirty Dancing, presented under the stars on the Coronado shoreline.

With the Hotel del Coronado as the backdrop, the evening will transform the beach into a nostalgic coastal homage to Kellerman’s Mountain House in the Catskills. As the sun sets over the Pacific, guests will be welcomed by glowing bonfires, ocean breezes, and the nostalgic soundtrack that will have you “Swayzing” as DJ Trisha Lynn and Marilyn Klisser of Club Coronado bring some heat to the sand.
Beach chairs will be provided, and guests are encouraged to bring blankets or jackets as the night may get chilly when the evening breeze rolls in. With a themed cocktail in hand and feet in the sand, attendees can settle in for a unique cinematic experience.
For those seeking an elevated experience, a limited number of exclusive fire pit lounges are available. Each includes a private fire pit, seating for up to six guests, a double-wide chaise lounge, and a bespoke gift, offering an intimate way to experience the evening.
Movie on the Beach serves as a critical fundraiser supporting CIFF’s mission, year-round outreach, and cultural programming.
“Year after year, our movie on the beach — made possible by the Hotel del Coronado — grows into something more spectacular than the last,” said Merridee Book, CEO & Artistic Director, Coronado Island Film Festival. “And yet the heart of this gathering has never been about the spectacle. It is about what happens when a community comes together around something it loves — and chooses to invest in it. The funds raised sustain our five-day festival and the free educational programming that reaches students, emerging filmmakers, and film lovers throughout the year. This is cinematic magic with real, lasting impact.”
TICKETS
Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. Contact Jon Book at sponsorship@coronadofilm.com.

Spoilers Book Club: "Hamnet"
2026-06-27 14:00 - 16:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
All spoilers, all the time! This month, Spoilers Book Club is reading Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet, the moving and imaginative novel about love, loss, family, and the story behind one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.
We’ll read the book, watch the film adaptation, and then dive into a lively discussion of what worked, what changed, what surprised us, and which version stayed with us most. Come ready to share your thoughts — spoilers encouraged!
No sign-up required.

VFW Auxiliary summer Sunday picnic dinner to-go
2026-06-28 16:30 - 18:30 | VFW Post 2422, 557 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Serving Sunday picnic dinners at the Coronado VFW.
The Coronado VFW Auxiliary at Post 2422 are serving up Picnic To-Go dinners each Sunday through August, perfect for taking to Concert in the Park, or dining at the VFW dining hall or garden area. The meals are available for a suggested donation of $15 and are available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals are prepared fresh to order and packaged for quick and easy take-out.
The June 28 dinner is grilled chicken on a generous spring greens salad, with a buttery croissant and chocolate chunk cookie.
This week the Auxiliary sponsorship is for Veterans and Family Support programs.
The VFW is a not-for-profit organization. Meals purchased are tax-deductible. All proceeds benefit programs for Veterans, local active-duty military and their families and Post 2422 building maintenance.

Concert in the Park: Big Time Operator
2026-06-28 18:00 | Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Big Time Operator
BTO will take you back to the ’30s – ’40s era of the New York Savoy Ballroom with the great swing classics of the past, updated with their own brand of jump, jive and hepcat swing.
Website: Big Time Operator
( 5:00 pm – Dance Instructions)
Sponsored by
Friends of Rick Wilcoxon /
Steve Pittendrigh & Karen Greenberg

Sit a Spell Piano grand opening
2026-07-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Head to the library on Wednesday, July 1 at 1 p.m. for a grand opening celebration as the city’s Sit a Spell Piano is unveiled in front of the Library.
This public art piano, sponsored by the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission and the Friends of the Coronado Public Library, is designed to bring music, creativity, and community together in a shared public space.
Enjoy an hour of live music as you sing along to beloved favorites and patriotic tunes — no singing experience required. Bring friends and family and help celebrate this community addition.
This event will take place outside.

All-Class Reunion
2026-07-03 18:30 - 23:00 | Feast & Fareway, 2000 Visalia Row, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Looking for something to do the night before the 4th?
All are welcome at Coronado’s all-class reunion, even if you didn’t graduate from or attend Coronado High School. It’s family-friendly too!
Head to Feast & Fareway at the Coronado Golf Course on Friday, July 3 for the annual event. The $10 entry fee covers a night of mingling with friends old and new as well as dancing to the tunes of The West Coast Iron Works and Special Guests, still rockin’ after 60 years. Food is available for an additional fee, and the no-host bar will be open.

4th of July in Coronado
2026-07-04 | CA
See our dedicated 4th of July page for all the details:
Coronado 4th of July Schedule

Fifth of July cleanup
2026-07-05 06:00 - 08:00 | Coronado Golf Course, 2000 Visalia Row, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join Emerald Keepers in partnership with the Coronado Fourth of July (CFOJ) committee cleaning up fireworks debris at the Coronado Golf Course.
Volunteers, who will be walking the golf course, should meet near the intersection of Vista Place and Glorietta Boulevard promptly at 6 am. Look for the Emerald Keepers feather flag. This is an early event but a great opportunity to enjoy a beautiful location not normally accessible to non-golfers.
Emerald Keepers will provide equipment, but please bring gloves and trash pickers, if you have them.
In addition to supporting the golf course cleanup, Emerald Keepers is sponsoring the Clean Earth Rover, an autonomous water-borne vessel that picks up debris in waterways, to clean the waters of Glorietta Bay.

Liberty Celebration Swim
2026-07-05 08:30 | Glorietta Bay Park, 1975 Strand Way, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Coronado’s Liberty Celebration Swim (formerly 4th of July Rough Water Swim) has long been an iconic way to celebrate our nation’s independence. The event will take place on July 5 in Glorietta Bay Park in Coronado.
This open water swim offers a distance for every swimmer and experience level, including:

Youth 250 M Dash
750 M
1.5 Km
3 Km

Set against the iconic backdrop of the Coronado Bridge, the course is nested in the southwest corner of Glorietta Bay Park, where wave, wake, and current impacts are generally low. That makes this race both fun and competitive for a wide range of athletic levels, and especially welcoming for swimmers who are new to the open water scene.
All participants receive a finisher medal, souvenir swim cap, and race t-shirt.

VFW Auxiliary summer Sunday picnic dinner to-go
2026-07-05 16:30 - 18:30 | VFW Post 2422, 557 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Serving Sunday picnic dinners at the Coronado VFW.
The Coronado VFW Auxiliary at Post 2422 are serving up Picnic To-Go dinners each Sunday through August, perfect for taking to Concert in the Park, or dining at the VFW dining hall or garden area. The meals are available for a suggested donation of $15 and are available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals are prepared fresh to order and packaged for quick and easy take-out.
The July 5 dinner is a pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw, and chocolate chunk cookie.
This week the Auxiliary sponsorship is for community outreach programs.
The VFW is a not-for-profit organization. Meals purchased are tax-deductible. All proceeds benefit programs for Veterans, local active-duty military and their families and Post 2422 building maintenance.

Concert in the Park: Nate Nathan & The MacDaddy-O's
2026-07-05 18:00 | Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Nate Nathan & The MacDaddy-O’s
Join Nate and his friends for a unique musical extravaganza, as they play your classic rock favorites and some great original tunes by the band.
Website: Nate Nathan & The MacDaddy-O’s
Sponsored by
The Canu Family

Project Heartbeat CPR & First Aid Training
2026-07-10 11:30 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
This free informative presentation is designed to help you stay safe, prepared and empowered.

Gain valuable lifesaving knowledge or refresh your knowledge in the free AED and Hands-Only CPR training. Participants will learn how to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, use an automated external defibrillator (AED) and perform hands-only CPR. While a certificate is not provided, this class offers essential skills that can help save a life.
To reserve your spot today, register online at www.coronado.ca.us/civicrec, call 619-522-7343, or stop by the John D. Spreckels Center at 1019 Seventh Street.

VFW Auxiliary summer Sunday picnic dinner to-go
2026-07-12 16:30 - 18:30 | VFW Post 2422, 557 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Serving Sunday picnic dinners at the Coronado VFW.
The Coronado VFW Auxiliary at Post 2422 are serving up Picnic To-Go dinners each Sunday through August, perfect for taking to Concert in the Park, or dining at the VFW dining hall or garden area. The meals are available for a suggested donation of $15 and are available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals are prepared fresh to order and packaged for quick and easy take-out.
The July 12 dinner is a burger, Chef Mike’s potato salad, and a chocolate chunk cookie.
This week the Auxiliary sponsorship is for youth activities.
The VFW is a not-for-profit organization. Meals purchased are tax-deductible. All proceeds benefit programs for Veterans, local active-duty military and their families and Post 2422 building maintenance.

Concert in the Park: The Pine Mountain Logs
2026-07-12 18:00 | Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Pine Mountain Logs
Come early and be ready to dance, as The Pine Mountain Logs will have you up on your feet and screaming for more!
Website: The Pine Mountain Logs
Sponsored by
CalPrivate Bank
and
Coronado Shores Company

VFW Auxiliary summer Sunday picnic dinner to-go
2026-07-19 16:30 - 18:30 | VFW Post 2422, 557 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Serving Sunday picnic dinners at the Coronado VFW.
The Coronado VFW Auxiliary at Post 2422 are serving up Picnic To-Go dinners each Sunday through August, perfect for taking to Concert in the Park, or dining at the VFW dining hall or garden area. The meals are available for a suggested donation of $15 and are available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals are prepared fresh to order and packaged for quick and easy take-out.
The July 19 dinner is grilled chicken with spring greens salad, a croissant, and a chocolate chunk cookie.
This week the Auxiliary sponsorship is for Buddy Poppy.
The VFW is a not-for-profit organization. Meals purchased are tax-deductible. All proceeds benefit programs for Veterans, local active-duty military and their families and Post 2422 building maintenance.

Concert in the Park: ABBAFab
2026-07-19 18:00 | Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
ABBAFab
Not to be missed. A tribute to the music of the 1970s Swedish pop sensation ABBA, this multimedia production covers all the band’s essential hits.
Website: ABBAFab
Sponsored by
Coronado Real Estate Association
and
Brigantine Family of Restaurants

VFW Auxiliary summer Sunday picnic dinner to-go
2026-07-26 16:30 - 18:30 | VFW Post 2422, 557 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Serving Sunday picnic dinners at the Coronado VFW.
The Coronado VFW Auxiliary at Post 2422 are serving up Picnic To-Go dinners each Sunday through August, perfect for taking to Concert in the Park, or dining at the VFW dining hall or garden area. The meals are available for a suggested donation of $15 and are available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals are prepared fresh to order and packaged for quick and easy take-out.
The July 26 dinner is a pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw, and a chocolate chunk cookie.
This week the Auxiliary sponsorship is for legislative efforts to support the military.
The VFW is a not-for-profit organization. Meals purchased are tax-deductible. All proceeds benefit programs for Veterans, local active-duty military and their families and Post 2422 building maintenance.

Concert in the Park: Ron's Garage
2026-07-26 18:00 | Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Ron’s Garage
Coronado’s own Ron’s Garage brings together a team of talented musicians as adept playing for thousands in Spreckels Park as they are bringing all of Orange Avenue to life on an afternoon from the patio at McP’s.
Website: Ron’s Garage
Sponsored by
Sharp Hospital of Coronado

Concert in the Park: Cassie B
2026-08-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Cassie B
Performing a mix of originals and covers, including “Lady Marmalade” and “Purple Rain” Cassie B, a local musical inspiration and her talented team also has the honor of being the San Diego Padres house band.
Website: Cassie B
Sponsored by
The O’Briens at PorchLight Realty
and
Dr. Kurt Hummeldorf, DMD

Concert in the Park: High Tide Society
2026-08-09 18:00 | Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
High Tide Society
Get Ready to Make a Splash, don your captain’s hat and your ascot tie and get ready to dance the night away with High Tide Society. This energetic 8-10 piece band – with their breezy blend of horns, guitars, keyboards, and harmonic vocals – combines soft rock, upbeat R&B, and disco dance hits from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and beyond.
Website: High Tide Society
Sponsored by
Kory Kavanewsky of CMG Mortgage

Concert in the Park: The Perfect Blend
2026-08-16 18:00 | Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Perfect Blend
The Perfect Blend Quartet is a popular Southern California act featuring Loulou and François, celebrated for their fresh take on classic hits from the ’70s and beyond. They have audiences dreaming, cheering, and dancing along.
Website: The Perfect Blend
Sponsored by
Stay Coronado
and
Diane Jolley & Bill Subang

Military Appreciation Day Concert in the Park: Navy Band Southwest's 32nd Street Brass Band AND SixWire & Guests
2026-08-23 16:30 - 19:30 | Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
4:30 pm

Navy Band Southwest’s 32nd Street Brass Band
With over 90 years of service in San Diego, the New Orleans-style brass band is one of the Navy’s and region’s finest and oldest continuing musical organizations.
Website: Navy Band Southwest’s 32nd Street Brass Band
Sponsored by
The Coronado Chamber of Commerce

6:00 pm

SixWire & Guests
A Little Bit Country and A Little Bit Rock and Roll, SixWire is one of the best bands to come out of Nashville. This year’s TWO special guests will be announced at the show.
Special Guests – To be Announced at Concert
Website: SixWire
Sponsored by
The Auen Foundation
and
Arlene Inch
